Here are a few more suggestions for those desperate for last minute holiday gift ideas. Much better alternatives than buying gift cards that are often unused and later expire, or rummaging for left over gift baskets, boxes of chocolates and candies at a local Safeway or Walgreen’s – both are open 24 hours.

As expected, many procrastinating shoppers are currently dashing into stores to pick up last minute Christmas gifts. Luckily, most local shopping malls are open today, Christmas Eve from 9 am to 6 pm. While many others shop online, searching for deals in sites like Amazon and/or Toys R Us, which is currently offering free shipping and 10% off. The following foodie gift suggestions can be ordered from the comfort of your home computer.

A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant could be the perfect gift. Restaurant.com certificates offers occasional promotional codes. The latest promo is the best discount they’ve ever offered. Use discount code = JOY, to get 90% off the regular price. Code expires at midnight December 24.

Fans of Bravo’s reality TV show Top Chef would be ecstatic to receive a one year membership to Top Chef University. But don’t expect to obtain a culinary degree from them, this is for entertainment only. 12 online video courses about basic cooking skills, taught by 11 former “chef-testants”, including Top Chef contest winners Stephanie Izard and Richard Blais, infamous Marcel Vigneron, crowd favorites Carla Hall, Brian Malarkey, Spike Mendelsohn, Kevin Gillespie and a few others. The online content includes more than 60 hours of videos and over 220 recipes. Use promo code = RDSDEC at checkout to get 50% off ($99) the regular annual rate ($199). The price includes a one year subscription to Food and Wine magazine, and a $10 Shop Etc. Mall gift card. The gift card is redeemable at any store at San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria, NewPark Mall and Southland Mall in Hayward. Discount offer expires March 25, 2012.

Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen: Cookin’ for Trouble, is the second cookbook by Nadia Giosia, the attractive host of The Cooking Channel’s hit show Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen. In between the humorous Italian slang dictionary and funny stories about Nadia’s dysfunctional family pizza night, there’s some great advice in the party guide chapter and more than 75 well illustrated and approachable recipes. It’s a refreshing contrast to the typical stuffy cookbooks, entertaining to read, and worthwhile recipes that’ll boost the confidence in your cooking skills. Retail price is $22, $11.99 for Amazon’s Kindle version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oy8sIN3oow

Here’s a promo clip from The Cooking Channel, in case you’ve never seen her cooking show.

Best wishes this holiday season!

• Tag: Christmas Gifts, Foodies, holidays